Jaclyn Johnson

which sparks like a lot of different emotions amongst the private equity firm. And then of course our lender and then the existing CEO. And so honestly, over two months of just like negotiations back and forth at falling through it, coming back at like all the things that happen when you're in the midst of an M&A kind of transaction.

which sparks like a lot of different emotions amongst the private equity firm. And then of course our lender and then the existing CEO. And so honestly, over two months of just like negotiations back and forth at falling through it, coming back at like all the things that happen when you're in the midst of an M&A kind of transaction.

The negotiations like private equity never likes to sell back to the founder. Really? I didn't know that. Why? Because typically, I think it's considered a failure on their end, right? So when you think about going back to that, it doesn't exactly make sense. I'm sure in some scenarios it might, but I think for them, it doesn't look good to their LPs. Like, it can be perceived as...

The negotiations like private equity never likes to sell back to the founder. Really? I didn't know that. Why? Because typically, I think it's considered a failure on their end, right? So when you think about going back to that, it doesn't exactly make sense. I'm sure in some scenarios it might, but I think for them, it doesn't look good to their LPs. Like, it can be perceived as...

The negotiations like private equity never likes to sell back to the founder. Really? I didn't know that. Why? Because typically, I think it's considered a failure on their end, right? So when you think about going back to that, it doesn't exactly make sense. I'm sure in some scenarios it might, but I think for them, it doesn't look good to their LPs. Like, it can be perceived as...

the optics aren't great also there was like a want to sell it to a bigger media company and things like that which obviously makes sense too and i was supportive of the best possible outcome right i wasn't like gunning to mess up any deals that they might have had but i also was like i do feel very strongly that i'm the best person to take this back because of a few different things one to your point it's a community-centric business yes on paper there's a p l and there's revenue and there's this at the end of the day there's people and people related to that business

the optics aren't great also there was like a want to sell it to a bigger media company and things like that which obviously makes sense too and i was supportive of the best possible outcome right i wasn't like gunning to mess up any deals that they might have had but i also was like i do feel very strongly that i'm the best person to take this back because of a few different things one to your point it's a community-centric business yes on paper there's a p l and there's revenue and there's this at the end of the day there's people and people related to that business

the optics aren't great also there was like a want to sell it to a bigger media company and things like that which obviously makes sense too and i was supportive of the best possible outcome right i wasn't like gunning to mess up any deals that they might have had but i also was like i do feel very strongly that i'm the best person to take this back because of a few different things one to your point it's a community-centric business yes on paper there's a p l and there's revenue and there's this at the end of the day there's people and people related to that business

in part because of me and my journey in building it. And so I think it's really hard, whether it's a strategic acquisition or a private equity acquisition or any type of acquisition, it's very challenging when you're so connected to a brand that was built around you and your vision and your story to then sell it. It's just hard. It's a hard business to then grow and build separate of that person.

in part because of me and my journey in building it. And so I think it's really hard, whether it's a strategic acquisition or a private equity acquisition or any type of acquisition, it's very challenging when you're so connected to a brand that was built around you and your vision and your story to then sell it. It's just hard. It's a hard business to then grow and build separate of that person.

in part because of me and my journey in building it. And so I think it's really hard, whether it's a strategic acquisition or a private equity acquisition or any type of acquisition, it's very challenging when you're so connected to a brand that was built around you and your vision and your story to then sell it. It's just hard. It's a hard business to then grow and build separate of that person.

And I think they didn't realize that or maybe they thought because we were going more digital, but then events came backers that kind of go into it. Right. So basically, net net through the negotiations, finally, it became clear that it would basically come back to me, which was very exciting.

And I think they didn't realize that or maybe they thought because we were going more digital, but then events came backers that kind of go into it. Right. So basically, net net through the negotiations, finally, it became clear that it would basically come back to me, which was very exciting.

And I think they didn't realize that or maybe they thought because we were going more digital, but then events came backers that kind of go into it. Right. So basically, net net through the negotiations, finally, it became clear that it would basically come back to me, which was very exciting.

Totally. It was weird because it was like, again, I had already started another company, Cherub, which we'll talk about. And Blueprint. And so I was like, this feels crazy, but... But it weirdly feels timely. Like I am a big believer in everything happens for a reason. And I think like meeting Marina, launching the blueprint, like all those things led up to that moment.

Totally. It was weird because it was like, again, I had already started another company, Cherub, which we'll talk about. And Blueprint. And so I was like, this feels crazy, but... But it weirdly feels timely. Like I am a big believer in everything happens for a reason. And I think like meeting Marina, launching the blueprint, like all those things led up to that moment.

Totally. It was weird because it was like, again, I had already started another company, Cherub, which we'll talk about. And Blueprint. And so I was like, this feels crazy, but... But it weirdly feels timely. Like I am a big believer in everything happens for a reason. And I think like meeting Marina, launching the blueprint, like all those things led up to that moment.

Because truly, if Marina was not in the equation, I wouldn't have done it.

Because truly, if Marina was not in the equation, I wouldn't have done it.

Because truly, if Marina was not in the equation, I wouldn't have done it.